This course examines how the issues of crime and justice are seen in the context of a highly diverse world. Topics to be covered include: how law affects different people in our society, differential involvement in crime across cultures, differential effects of crime across societies, how law impacts our society as compared to other societies, subcultural impacts of law and the impact of the criminal justice system on our culture as compared to other cultures. The ultimate aim of the course is to raise and discuss basic issues about the meaning of justice and how justice can be achieved in a diverse world. (4 class hours per week.)
Course Objectives:
1. Examine crime and justice in our diverse world.
2. Examine how law and justice affects different racial, ethnic, and social groups.
3. Examine involvement of different racial, ethnic, social and cultural groups in criminal behavior.
4. Examine how law impacts our society as compared to other societies.
5. Raise and discuss basic issues about the meaning of justice.
Course Outline:
I. Crime and the Criminal Justice System in the world today
II. Inequality and Crime in a Society
III. Justice in various Social Systems
IV. The Police as an Administrator of Justice
V. Cultural, Racial, and Ethnic Differences in the Administration of Justice
VI. The Court as an Arbitrator of Justice
VII. Juveniles in an Adult System
VIII. Comparative Correctional Systems Worldwide
IX. Crimes of Love and Hate vs. Crimes of Economics and Opportunity
X. Crime as a Social Control Mechanism
Student Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Differentiate justice from injustice.
2. Assess the Criminal Justice System's ability to administer justice.
3. Compare the US Criminal Justice System to that of other countries.
4. Distinguish the various motivational factors behind criminal behavior.
5. Evaluate the juvenile in our criminal justice system today.
6. Demonstrate insight into individual criminal behavior.
7. Analyze social, political, cultural, historical, and economic relationships that link and separate societies throughout the world.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of their own society and it's racial, ethnic, and cultural makeup as it is a part of the larger world societal experience.